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Report: David West Wants to Play for Warriors, Spurs

By Jared Wade

Oct 12, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Indiana Pacers forward David West (21) reacts during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 12, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Indiana Pacers forward David West (21) reacts during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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David West’s days playing for the Indiana Pacers are over.

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He opted out of the final year of a contract that would have paid him $12.2 million for the 2015-16 season. He has already said goodbye to the fans and told them why he left.

Now he says he wants to go somewhere that he can win a ring.

And a report by Sam Amick of USA Today says that David West is interested in playing for the reigning champion Golden State Warriors or the San Antonio Spurs. The interest is mutual, per Amick.

"David West is willing to put his money where his mouth is – even if he loses quite a bit of it in the process.According to a person with knowledge of his situation, the free agent forward who declined a $12.2 million player option to stay with the Indiana Pacers next season, has serious interest in playing for the San Antonio Spurs or the Golden State Warriors … West, the 34-year-old who was an All-Star while with the New Orleans Hornets in 2008 and 2009, would have to take either the Warriors’ mini midlevel exception ($3.3 million annually) or — if they wanted to use that elsewhere — a veteran’s minimum deal to play with the Warriors ($1.49 million annually). He would also likely take a significant pay cut to play for the Spurs, though their fluid roster situation means the kind of paycut is not known. But as he told WTHR’s Bob Kravitz in an interview on Wednesday, he is hell-bent on playing for a contender … Even with the Warriors coming to an agreement with restricted free agent forward Draymond Green on a five-year deal worth approximately $80 million, they would certainly have interest in West if he were willing to make that kind of financial sacrifice. The Spurs are currently in the running for free agent forward LaMarcus Aldridge, but West’s team-first fabric and reliable production (11.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game last season) would be a tremendous fit."

It should be tough for Pacers fans to have any animosity for West.

He grinded hard the whole time he wore blue and gold, and it was his decision to join squad in 2011 that turned the franchise around and put it on a course that brought the team within one game of the NBA Finals in 2013.

Now he wants to win.

And though watching him play anywhere else might be like seeing a photo of an ex-girlfriend at the beach with a new guy, it should be easier to see him hit his 17-footers playing for the Spurs or Warriors than it would be the Knicks, Cavs or Bulls.

Next: Report: Pacers Yet to Reach Out to Rodney Stuckey

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